Once in a lifetime,
a man is born who will shake the consciousness and passion of the music industry. Such a man is Mehdi Hassan.

Khan Saheb Mehdi Hassan was born in Luna, which is 107 miles from
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. According to a news report he inherited music from his ancestors, who came from fifteen generations
of musicians. In other words, Mehdi Hassan is the culmination of fifteen generations of musicians. Arguably, he is the sixteenth
one in that lineage.

His teachers began teaching him music as soon as he could talk. Mehdi
Hassan’s father, Ustad Azim Khan, was a notable classical singer in his time. Maharaja of Jaipur was convinced of his
talents after listening to his renditions.

Mehdi Hassan started learning music at the age of six and his father
was his first music teacher. At eight years of age, Mehdi Hassan gave his first public performance at Maharaja of Barodi’s
place.

Additionally, Mehdi Hassan was thoroughly trained in a wide variety
of vocal music like ‘Dhru pad’, ‘Khayal’, ‘Thumri’ and ‘Dadra’. He has really
gone to the depths to master the gorgeous musical pieces as well.

Mehdi Hassan’s uncle, Ismail Khan, also played a key role to
groom him in different aspects of music. Thus, Mehdi Hassan grew up surrounded by music and musicians.

He migrated to Pakistan after partition and adopted the profession
of an automobile mechanic in Sargodha, Khushab. Fortunately, for the world, after that respite, he resumed his music career.

In times due course, Mehdi Hassan moved to Karachi and started seeking
work in his true love, music. He debuted in 1952 from Radio Pakistan Lahore, where he recorded the perennial ghazal, ‘Guloan
may rang bharay, baad-e-nau bahar chalay’, composed by Ghulam Qadir, elder brother of Mehdi Hassan.

Mehdi Hassan got his start in the Pakistani film industry, Karachi,
in 1962, with his debut film song ‘Meray khayal-o-khawab ki duniya liye huay’, film ‘Shikar’.

In 1962, he also rendered the renowned song ‘Mujh ko Aawaz
day tu kahan hai’, film ‘Ghunghat’, director- composer- writer, Khursheed Anwar, pictured on Santosh Kumar.
‘Ghunghat’ was based on the grand theme of music.

Since then, Mehdi Hassan’s thinking and his future had been
transformed into his unparalleled voice. It was as though both his career and his life were charmed. Below is a song which
launched him into a life of true success:

Talking of Mehdi Hassan’s accomplishments, he is well known
for his mastery over ‘sur and ‘lai’. Innumerable admirers of this great human have a singer in Mehdi Hassan,
who rule their hearts and minds through his unrivalled songs like the six below:

As time passed by, he picked one success after another. He had a
specialty in both tragic and romantic numbers. Mehdi Hassan has been a virtuoso of music, carrying on what he called his life-
long relentless excursion into practicality. He is famous for the six splendidly recorded songs below:

His past performances inscribes in listeners mind a sense of humanity
that is exclusively its own. Therefore, he holds a singular place in our hearts. The song below had evoked tears even from
strong men:

So great is Mehdi Hassan’s involvement and dedication to music
that those who know him adore him. His ultimate excellence was a product of total commitment and hard work over the long term.
Mehdi Hassan, who was from the beginning mostly recognized for his artistic creativity did full justice to the six songs below:

Mehdi Hassan’s is the music you want to live with. His singing
voice has no parallel in the annals of Pakistani music. Put another way, in the fifty-seven years of Pakistani music, Mehdi
Hassan stands alone. Listening to his magical voice is like listening to a haunting melody, which flows and ripples from a
flute. His wistful voice is all the more evident in the six songs below:

Most definitely, he brings to the song the sobering sense of a true
singer. His voice carries a serene sound. It is a sober voice. In reality, it has every thing to do with capturing ones feelings
from the innermost recesses of ones heart. When it came to songs with emotional impact, composers usually turned to Mehdi
Hassan. Six examples below:

When Mehdi Hassan sings, his voice itself is an instrument, the listeners
feel the music glow within them. As the public heard his voice rise, every note was in place, warm and confident. He had been
assiduously honing his craft over the decades. Looking back over his half- century of performance, one comes across such favorites
as the six songs below:

It was reported in the press that during Mehdi Hassan’s stay
in Bombay, Lata Mangeshkar visited him bare footed, and touched his feet as a mark of respect. Mehdi Hassan lent his voice
to the beautifully composed, solidly researched lyrics. Below are six examples:

Mehdi Hassan had the magic touch and he used it well. All those songs,
which were recorded in the voice of Mehdi Hassan have became the gold standard. Once the hand- written lyrics on the paper
comes in contact with his hands, they are either transformed into a master- piece song or a cherished ghazal. Hence, Mehdi
Hassan is the maestro with the Midas touch. Six examples below:

Music prodigies start honing their gifts and devote the rest of their
lives to a ferocious discipline, to the exclusion of almost every thing else. Mehdi Hassan is one of such prodigy. He is almost
a perfectionist and he sang with the intensity of a mastersinger. His dedication was absolute while recording the six songs
below:

The love and admiration, which his fans lavish on him, is astounding.
Listening to his singing voice is to experience a wave of emotion rising from our core. Through his voice, Mehdi Hassan gave
his nation the classic seventies songs. Below are six assorted songs of the 1970s:

The high profile reputation he had created in the beginning of his
career as a vocalist has only increased in the recent past. He is a shining example of one man making a big difference—in
his case, through the power of his voice. The impact he created through the six songs below is worth mentioning:

Mehdi Hassan was never outclassed. He always remained singer number
one in the eyes of music listeners. This music celebrity had every reason to feel buoyant, as he continually strived to remain
a world- class performer. The sheer brilliance of his voice, the way he lifted it up was uniquely his own. The six songs below
have become a staple of Pakistani film scores:

Mehdi Hassan enjoys an exceptionally high international following.
Though he retired from active singing, his myriad of fans could not get his songs off their minds. Every adorer who has an
ear for music and a strong memory of the past may recall the enormous impact of the six songs below:

Mehdi Hassan’s most prominent fans include the former Indian
Prime minister, Atal Behari Vajpaye, Lata Mangeshkar and Aasha Bhonslay. Mehdi Hassan performed at the residence of Vajpaye
in 1978. ‘Music and poetry know no boundaries.’ Said Mehdi Hassan.

He further said ‘Jo haq Pakistan ko meri ghazloan per hai,
wohi Hindustan ko bhi hai, unho nay mujhay kam pyar naheen diya.’ It is impossible to overlook the influence of his
six songs below on the listeners:

Every adorer was moved by Mehdi Hassan’s unmatched singing
prowess, as they brushed tears of deeper emotion from their eyes. Three examples below:

‘Ik baar chalay Aao, phir Aa kay chalay jana.’

‘Hum say badal gaya wo nigahain to kya hua.’

‘Aakhri baar mil rahay hain hum.’

The national songs in Mehdi Hassan’s voice captured the essence
of what life in Pakistan really is about. Two of them became the most radio- requested songs from 1965 onwards:

‘Apni jaan nazar karoan, apni wafa paish karoan.’

‘Allah kay waday pay mujahid ko yaqeen hai.’

Likewise, the national song below seems to catch the patriotic fervor
of Pakistanis, and lifted their spirits:

‘Ye watan tumhara hai, tum ho pass baan is kay.’

After receiving the ‘Pride of performance’ Award, Mehdi
Hassan proved for the umpteenth time that he is unmatched. The authentic legend of Pakistani music, Mehdi Hassan and his music
was brought to the lime light in July 2001, when Karachi television center presented Mehdi Hassan with a life time achievement
Award.

Mehdi Hassan won the Nigar Award nine times in his career. He received
six of them in a row which is a record:

Mehdi Hassan received the Nigar Award for best singer in 1964 for
the film ‘Farangi.’

Mehdi Hassan received the Nigar Award for best singer in 1968 for
the film ‘Saiqa.’

Mehdi Hassan received the Nigar Award for best singer in 1969 for
the film ‘Zarqa.’

Mehdi Hassan received the Nigar Award for best singer in 1972 for
the film ‘Meri zindigi hai naghma.’

Mehdi Hassan received the Nigar Award for best singer in1973 for
the film ‘Naya Raasta.’

Mehdi Hassan received the Nigar Award for best singer in 1974 for
the film ‘Sharafat.’

Mehdi Hassan received the Nigar Award for best singer in 1975 for
the film ‘Zeenat.’

Mehdi Hassan received the Nigar Award for best singer in 1976 for
the film ‘Shabana.’

Mehdi Hassan received the Nigar Award for best singer in 1977 for
the film ‘Aaena.’

His son operates a music academy in the U.S.A. Another son, Asif
Mehdi, is a gifted singer as well. Mehdi Hasan has been one of the most dominant forces in Pakistani show business for five
decades. Apparently, he is the greatest vocalist to exultant countrymen.

Though he has stopped singing, his past performances speaks volumes
nonetheless. Unfortunately, he is not feeling well nowadays. The government of Pakistan has agreed to bear all his medical
expenses.

Over and above, Mehdi Hassan’s songs and ghazals will always remind us of the spirit
of renewal and adventure that is the core of our national heritage.

Anis Shakur works for the Downstate Medical Center and V.A. Hospital, N.Y.